Campbell pressured into not signing?

[SabreNasty2630]

I know it's Eklund, but I think he brings up a valid point and raises some questions. I'm sure this is done all the time, but I for one would like to see it change. All it is doing is hurting the game in the long run and sending the league towards another lockout and possible demise

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=13737

Brian Campbell

Rarely has there been two parties that wanted to get something done more than Campbell and Buffalo. I am still extremely surprised that this situation ended so contentiously. I don't blame either side for that. This is a bitter pill for both sides to swallow and I get a sense from being close to both parties that Brian was a bit of a pawn in a game that may have had more to do with outside pressure for Brian to NOT accept a "home-town discount" than anything else.

Sabres fans need to look no further than Kelly saying that his "client" was playing his last game as a Sabre before the game even started. That was uncalled for and really put Buffalo into a spot. You can also tell that since the Sharks didn't have to give up too much get Campbell they are far from certain that he will be re-signing.

And yet the Sharks made a great move here showing their fans what I had written about prior. Sometimes you need to go for it and risk something for a shot at glory.

[Thumper]

A former 1st round pick that's only 22 years old and another 1st round pick in this years draft isn't much to give up for a "rental"? Shut up already, Ek. I didn't think your cred could get much worse....Silly me.

[ksl66]

Eklund is terrible, but I think there is an element of truth to that statement, I think the agents and the PA are pushing these guys to get every dollar they can. This happens in every sport and it doesn't come as much of a surprise or as dramatic as Eklund makes it seem.

[bduff54]

eklund is useless, but he is right a bit, they did not get that much considering what hossa went for.
ATL got, 2 NHLers, and basically 2 first round picks. nice work Wadell.

Buffalo got one NHl'er and a first rounder.

[beTough54]

eklund is useless, but he is right a bit, they did not get that much considering what hossa went for.
ATL got, 2 NHLers, and basically 2 first round picks. nice work Wadell.

Buffalo got one NHl'er and a first rounder.

:rofl:

Two weeks ago in the shoutbox you were saying Campbell wouldn't get more than a 2nd. Now all of a sudden a 1st and the next Cam Neely isn't enough?

:supbro2:

[bduff54]

no, i didn't. i said they will not get as much as people think.

actually i was spot on

[SabreNasty2630]

Eklund is terrible, but I think there is an element of truth to that statement, I think the agents and the PA are pushing these guys to get every dollar they can. This happens in every sport and it doesn't come as much of a surprise or as dramatic as Eklund makes it seem.

That is true, however, The NFL, NBA and MLB can all afford to give out bigger contracts based off the money they generate.

[beTough54]

no, i didn't. i said they will not get as much as people think.

actually i was spot on

No you weren't, but convenient for you it was in the old shoutbox and can't be quoted.

I gave you comparable trades of Leetch and Gonchar, showing a 1st and two good prospects (the Ottawa offer). Instead, the Sabres got a first in a very deep draft year and a current NHL player on his way to 20 goals at 23 years old.

[bduff54]

nope, you are lieing. nice try though

[buffalofan19]

A former 1st round pick that's only 22 years old and another 1st round pick in this years draft isn't much to give up for a "rental"? Shut up already, Ek. I didn't think your cred could get much worse....Silly me.

He's comparing it to what the Penguins got for Hossa. Was it a bad return for Campbell? No. But Eklund does have a point in that there were other forces driving this thing.

It will be interesting to see what teams actually offer Campbell in the summer. If he doesn't get at least $6.5 million a year, he really should fire his agent, because that is who is feeding him the line that he is worth that much.

[atomheart]

I absolutely, without a doubt, think that Campbell was torn with all of this. The reason I think he's an ass for being upset about leaving is the fact that he's a damn adult. If he wanted to stay, and would've taken less money for it, he should've. Who gives a **** about the rest of the players if you're not happy. I hate sports agents, most of them are soulless *******s

[SabreGirl]

I think the agent is feeding a vulnerable and immature kid a line to get the most commission he can. I don't truly believe he's looking out for Brian EXCEPT to try to get the most money he can possibly get for him. Is this wrong? No. But, don't confuse being money hungry with caring about Brian as an individual and getting the best deal he can for him and keeping him a happy hockey player. This place is all he knows and, as someone that has moved around A LOT, I can vouch that this place is hard to shake. After years away, I couldn't get back fast enough.

Perhaps he should ask Nik Lidstrom about the home town discount he gave Detroit to stay there -- a place where he's happy to be/play. How is this different from Soupy's position? Lidstrom is mentally adult enough to make his own decisions and he knows that money ain't everything...

http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/011008/spo_s3001.shtml

"He is one of those athletes who likes it here. He took the "hometown discount" while recently signing a two-year contract extension for "only" $7.4 million per season. For this, Lidstrom has received criticism in the Canadian press because, as a truly elite player, he accepted a contract for less than the NHL's maximum for the salary cap. They say Lidstrom's decision will help keep salaries down league-wide."

He is by FAR the best d-man in the league and one that Campbell AND Boyle can only hope to be.

Campbell is not worth $6 mil for 6 years...I'm sorry, but I'd rather have an entire team, not just a few players for our cap space.

[anEinherjer]

MAN do I hate agents. Where is the pain for them? Where is the trouble?

They just feed their boys bullshit about holding out for the most money, but to whose benefit? THEM. They get their comission, and for them getting a 6 year deal kicks ass.

Leeches of the world, just slightly above lawyers and used coffin salesmen.

[Bay Side]

S.J. wont give Campbell the 6 mill+ he wants!

[buffalofan19]

I think the agent is feeding a vulnerable and immature kid a line to get the most commission he can. I don't truly believe he's looking out for Brian EXCEPT to try to get the most money he can possibly get for him. Is this wrong? No. But, don't confuse being money hungry with caring about Brian as an individual and getting the best deal he can for him and keeping him a happy hockey player. This place is all he knows and, as someone that has moved around A LOT, I can vouch that this place is hard to shake. After years away, I couldn't get back fast enough.

Perhaps he should ask Nik Lidstrom about the home town discount he gave Detroit to stay there -- a place where he's happy to be/play. How is this different from Soupy's position? Lidstrom is mentally adult enough to make his own decisions and he knows that money ain't everything...

http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/011008/spo_s3001.shtml



He is by FAR the best d-man in the league and one that Campbell AND Boyle can only hope to be.

Campbell is not worth $6 mil for 6 years...I'm sorry, but I'd rather have an entire team, not just a few players for our cap space.

Two things about Lidstrom that make the Campbell situation different:

1. Lidstrom is 37 years old, and near the end of his career (unless, of course he decides to be a Chelios and just play until age 50). He's had the gigantic contract money for a while now. He's been paid the market premium more than once already. When you get older, stability becomes more of an issue that money (at least I would imagine...I can't say from experience since I'm only 22). When he was Campbell's age, he was going for his market value too. The difference is that Detroit actually gave it to him.

2. Niklas Lidstrom, even with this hometown discount is still making $7.4 million per season. That's more than Campbell will ever get even at his market premium. Sure it's a "discount" by definition, but he's still one of the league's highest paid defensemen. Obviously, he is worth it, but it was not that much of a discount. Campbell would have had to pass up $15-20 million in guaranteed money in order to stay here. That's a lot of money, and very hard to do no matter what income bracket you are in. I know I would have a hard time doing that.

[SabreGirl]

I agree -- there are differences in the Campbell/Lidstrom deal -- mainly, Lidstrom is the BEST DMAN in the NHL. Even at 37 years old, he still could have signed for BIG MONEY and chose not to. Campbell is not near Lidstrom's level at this point in his career.

I didn't post the above to compare the two players, because there is no comparison. I posted it to prove that someone other than Campbell is pulling the strings here. He didn't want to leave, yet acted like it was "impossible" to even consider less than 5-6 years as a term in a new contract. I'm not convinced this was him talking, it sounded like it was someone else coaching him to believe it.

To me, there is no question that someone else was feeding this information to him. Up until hours before the trade, he still thought it would be worked out while his "agent" was telling everyone BEFORE the game the night before the trade deadline that he would be playing his last game as a Sabre.

[Iggy72]

True enough, SabreGirl. Just look at what Boyle got.

Pax.
Iggy72

[Riley_Mason]

I think the agent is feeding a vulnerable and immature kid a line to get the most commission he can. I don't truly believe he's looking out for Brian EXCEPT to try to get the most money he can possibly get for him. .Campbell is a grown man, he's no kid. But on the other hand, he's not a professional negotiator. He can fire his agent, but he must trust him and they are both from Ottawa so there is probably a familiarity there. Everyone believes these players when they claim they want to stay in a town, They do----if the bank is thrown at them.